Welcome

Welcome to the POZ/AIDSmeds Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and
others concerned about HIV/AIDS. Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the
conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning: Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive
and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a
username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own
physician.

All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators
of these forums. Click here for “Am I Infected?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ/AIDSmeds community forums.

We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please
provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are
true and correct to their knowledge.

Author
Topic: What's in your first-aid kit? (Read 5369 times)

As a HIV newbie, I had an interesting experience happen this weekend. I was working on our house, barefoot like a dumb-ass, and I cut my foot. Leaving a blood trail behind me, I hobbled into the bathroom and my husband went got me our first-aid kit to clean and bandage it. By the time I got it all under control had bled quite a bit. I was seeing all of this blood and started to freak out a little. (He is neg and this is the first time since I found out I'm poz that we've had to deal with blood.) I started telling my husband to leave, but his wouldn't... It was a very uncomfortable feeling!

I think I've educated myself pretty well about transmission and know he was in no danger being in the room as I bled. I guess it just got me thinking what if If I had really needed his help with the bleeding we had no gloves to protect him from my blood.

For sure I'm going to have to get a better prepared first-aid kit now, but other than gloves do any of you keep anything additional in your first-aid?

Various sizes of bandages and wraps; neosporin, scissors, advil/aspirin, some other odds and ends -- it was actually a kit that came with my Nissan Xterra a few years back. I've adapted it for home use.

I saw antibacterial hand gel in the shop the other day, 1/2 price. The label put in bold that it kills retroviruses including HIV, HBV, etc etc. I thought this was a bit funny so I bought it. Don't know how I would use it or if its even practical to have but anyway. Oh, I have a box of latex gloves around the house always. And not because I fist just because they are handy and cheap and disposable for all sorts of little home projects. So I guess in a pinch. But really, how much is there to be afraid of? I think this is psychological fear.

Logged

ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

Aaron, unless he also had a fresh cut that he had just gotten at the same time you were injured and got your blood directly into his fresh, bleeding cut, then you don't need to worry about it. But it is a good idea to have some latex gloves in your kit, for peace of mind if nothing else. Wearing gloves when attending to a person's cuts is more hygienic anyway and always a good idea for both people's protection.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

A good first aid kit should contain:Gloves,Bandages of assorted sizesSterile GauzeAn antiseptic such as iodine pads, alcohol padsTweezers (fine point) Hydrogen Peroxide (not for deep cuts, but for surface abrasions)

I do not recommend keeping medicine in your first aid kit in your home. It's likely to go bad and it's expesnive. Instead, keep the appropriate pain relievers in your home. Check with your doctor as to what is appropriate for your particular health conditions, medicines, and locale. for example, tylenol is on my no-no list because of it's impact on the liver.

You should also keep a "oops kit" in your house. This would be some rubber gloves, bleach, and paper towels. Doesn't necessarily have to be dedicated. Bleach is sufficient to disinfect HIV. If you have Hep C your virus is a little more aggressive and you need to check into what is an adequeat disinfectant. One drop of Hep C in a needle after a week at room temperature is still infectious according to what I understand.

to the basic kit I would add:- box of bandaids $3- bottle of alchohol and hyrdogen peroxide (99c/ea)- Package of 10 latex gloves. Please date these as they do go bad. Should be replaced annually.- Plastic container for all of the above.

Really nice kit would include:- Scissors ($1.50 variety will work fine, just need to be sturdy)- Medical tape (one small roll is fine)- ACE Bandage- Razor Blade (single edge is fine, but a small knife is better)

If the kit is primarily for you and your family, I would add a small index card with important numbers such as your doctor, insurance company, and any chronic conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, etc. This will keep them handy and remind you about potential issues.

That is an example of one I have. They sell it as a 2 pack on Amazon. I keep one in the truck and one in the house.

I also recommend that you take a basic CPR course that includes first aid. These are free or low cost in most areas.

A pocket mask helps deliver effective breaths in a rescue breathing situation. A pocket mask kit also has gloves and a alchohol pad in it.

Lastly, I'll tell you something that was told to me by my first aid instructor:She said," I've been a nurse for 25 years. Up until the early 90's we didn't use gloves, masks, or glasses. We handled blood on a daily basis and in the ER it was everywhere. We didn't have a problem with infections."

That was her response to being asked what the real risk was in rendering aid to someone who was bleeding when we didn't have gloves. She is a RN.

I personally have taken CPR, Basic First Aid, Emergency Oxygen, Advanced Emergency Oxygen, Hazardous Marine Life First Aid, and a course called Rescue Diver which teaches you how to respond to and rescue someone who is paniced or drown in the water. I hope to never ever need my training, but I also want to be prepared in case someone I care about has a problem.

I've used it my training twice this year. Once to help someone at a friend's party. The victim had swallowed something wrong and was choking. Easy enough to help the guy get the obstruction out. The other time a close friend of mine experienced a panic attack and I remained calm and talked to him and dealt with it. Only halfway through his panic attack did I realize what was going on and that I had been handling it properly. That's the idea of training is to prepare you for something you hope doesn't happen.

« Last Edit: August 09, 2010, 01:29:17 PM by hotpuppy »

Logged

Don't obsess over the wrong things. Life isn't about your numbers, it isn't about this forum, it isn't about someone's opinion. It's about getting out there and enjoying it. I am a person with HIV - not the other way around.

My first aid kit contains- A guaze bandage that has to date back to the 70's. It's in a big box covered with dust, and it was one of the few things my step dad left me. It also has some kind of salt stick that I think was once used in Vietnam. Some of the band-aids don't stick anymore either.... I also have an Ace bandage without the little clips.

Marco you would have been in luck... I didn't go into details but I was actually moving the under counter refrigerator in our bar when I cut myself... There was over 50 bottles of alcohol within reaching distance!

I saw antibacterial hand gel in the shop the other day, 1/2 price. The label put in bold that it kills retroviruses including HIV, HBV, etc etc. I thought this was a bit funny so I bought it. Don't know how I would use it or if its even practical to have but anyway.

My mind boggles. Are they suggesting that you cleanse your hands after touching an infected person. Or maybe to prevent HIV you use it like a spermicide lube.

My mind boggles. Are they suggesting that you cleanse your hands after touching an infected person. Or maybe to prevent HIV you use it like a spermicide lube.

Not at all. I bought it out of gallows humour! I can't imagine an application having to do with HIV.HOwever, I gave a bottle to a friend and he used it that very day, cause he was collecting stray bird feathers on his farm and then his boyfriend brought us cocktails and we didn't feel like going to wash our hands...

And then since we were stoned we all marveled at the Hospital smell on our hands in the middle of the field. And how important it was to note that if we had to do open cavity surgery right then in the field, we had to wash our hands with the gel for a full 2 minutes. We wondered if that was a stressing thought or a comforting one.

Logged

ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

My mind boggles. Are they suggesting that you cleanse your hands after touching an infected person. Or maybe to prevent HIV you use it like a spermicide lube.

Hopefully to sanitize your hands prior to rendering aid.

Logged

Don't obsess over the wrong things. Life isn't about your numbers, it isn't about this forum, it isn't about someone's opinion. It's about getting out there and enjoying it. I am a person with HIV - not the other way around.

I've been recently infected and have thought the same thoughts... The main difference bet your situation and mine is that my partner has HIV as well but there's the "what if" something happens in public and god forbid you get into an accident...

What and how do we handle the situation and what should we carry with or on us at all times for preventative measures?

What and how do we handle the situation and what should we carry with or on us at all times for preventative measures?

Condoms and lube, and that's pretty much it. You can't go around armed with bleach and gloves at all times just on the off-chance that you may cut yourself. If you read the whole thread, you'll know that intact skin is an effective barrier to hiv and only very fresh cuts on the hands of the person helping you would present any danger. You're not going to infect anyone through casual contact, so relax.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

We could also keep some nice poppers, a few water proof condoms to kill boredom, and a "disclosure kit" for whenever you bring tricks to the pad.

Logged

"I have tried hard--but life is difficult, and I am a very useless person. I can hardly be said to have an independent existence. I was just a screw or a cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else."

We could also keep some nice poppers, a few water proof condoms to kill boredom, and a "disclosure kit" for whenever you bring tricks to the pad.

Of course the disclosure kit would have to include a digital video camera with spare memory cards to record the disclosure. And legal forms for them to sign attesting to the fact that they consented to sex with a pozzy. And maybe record the act as well. You know, just for posterity's sake.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Of course the disclosure kit would have to include a digital video camera with spare memory cards to record the disclosure. And legal forms for them to sign attesting to the fact that they consented to sex with a pozzy. And maybe record the act as well. You know, just for posterity's sake.

You could alternatively go the other route and provide roofies so that they wouldn't even remember the act. I mean it's all up to personal choice.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Nope. I like my men (and women) to be conscious when I have sex with them. Roofie sex = necrophilia.

That would totally pointless to a big ol' bottom like Ms. Trey. As far as I know there ain't much he'd be able to do if his macho man is completely out of it and with a limp noodle.

Logged

"I have tried hard--but life is difficult, and I am a very useless person. I can hardly be said to have an independent existence. I was just a screw or a cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else."